The Diels–Alder Dimer of 6‐Hydroxy‐2,6‐dimethyl‐ cyclohexa‐2,4‐dienone, an Unusual Metabolite in the Bacterial Degradation of 2,6‐Xylenol

Contrary to expectation, 2,6-xylenol 1 is also microbially degradable. The Diels-Alder dimer of 6-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylcyclohexa-2,4-dienone (2) was identified among the degradation products. The ortho-hydroxylation of a 2,6-disubstituted phenol was thus found for the first time in nature.